Gov. Paul LePage has already instituted major cutbacks on the SNAP program by gutting its funding via the farm bill and putting work requirements in place. SNAP provides thousands of food-insecure Mainers a modest meal stipend based on household income and necessary expenses. Historically, there is no data to show that similar work requirements decrease unemployment, so effectively the result of this change is that less Mainers can be food secure. Maine already has the third highest rate of hunger in the United States.

Now, LePage is trying to kick formerly incarcerated people and drug users off of the SNAP program. This effectively targets the most vulnerable Mainers and prevents people from receiving the help they need. No matter what someone is struggling with, they deserve to eat.

As someone who has recently moved to Maine, I am deeply disappointed in LePage’s actions. I want to live in a place where public policy helps people to be the best they can be. We need to do everything we can to end food insecurity in this state, and LePage presently stands as a huge roadblock in this pursuit.

Maddy Smith, Lewiston